Electrohydraulic pressure operating mechanism



1935- R. H. COLLINGHAM ELECTROHYDRAULIC PRESSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 20, 1934 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES ELECTROHYDRAULI C PRESSURE OPER- ATING MECHANISM Robert H. Collingham, Rugby, England, assignor to General Electric Co New York Application January 20,

mpany, a corporation of 1934, Serial No. 707,619

In Great Britain March 7, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrohydraulic pressure operating mechanism and has for its object to produce an hydraulic operator to take the place of large alternating or direct current magnets and solenoids and to replace air cylinders where quiet and smooth thrust is desired through a given .distance.

The present invention consists in a device for applying pressure comprising a liquid container having a casing mounted within it divided into two portions, one of which forms the cylinder of an hydraulic motor, and the other contains an impeller which is driven by means of an electric motor and causes a differential pressure between the two sides of a movable vane contained in the operating cylinder. The impeller is driven by electric means which can be automatically operated if so desired. The interior of the casing is filled with liquid. The invention will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-section of the hydraulic operator, Fig. 2 represents a transverse section through the operating cylinder on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3-is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows. In Fig. 1, a driving means l0, preferably an electric'motor, rotates shaft H to which is secured an impeller I2. Impeller 2 rotates in a casing of which parts I3 and I4 form the walls thereof. Part |3 also forms the bottom wall of the cylindrical chamber defined by cylinder wall l5 which contains the vane |6 on which the differential pressure is exerted. An external container ll surrounding cylinder l5 and spaced therefrom, is filled with fluid up to the line indicated.

Referring to Fig. 2, the cylindrical chamber defined by cylinder wall I5 contains the movable vane l6 which is mounted on a sleeve |8 through which the impeller shaft passes. Cylinder I5 also contains a fixed abutment 20. The upper end of the sleeve I8 is attached to a lever 2| which is suitably keyed thereto.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the motor H1 is energized, shaft rotates and drives the impeller 2 thus causing centrifugal pressure to be created in the chamber formed between the parts l3 and M. This pressure is transmitted through aperture 22 to the inside of chamber l5 where it acts on the movable vane IS. The interior of the chamber on the other side of the movable vane I6 is connected by means of an aperture 25 to fluid at atmospheric pressure. The result is that, due to the pressure difference on opposite sides of the vane Hi, the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 2, and consequently the lever 2| is rotated due to the fact that it is keyed to the sleeve la. The other end of the lever 2| is connected by suitable linkage to operate the means for which the thrust provided by the lever 2| is required. As soon as the motor I0 is deenergized, the lever 2|, sleeve I8, and vane I6 are returned to the initial or off position by means of a helical spring 24 which is attached to lever 2| and the casting which forms a support for motor l0.

Due to the fact that all the parts are submerged in fluid and that as quickly as the fluid enters aperture 22 fluid is also discharged in an equal quantity through aperture 25, the fluid in the container I1 remains at a constant level. Furthermore, when the fluid is discharged through aperture 22 due to the fact that the vane I6 is being returned to its off position by the spiral spring 24, the dash-pot effect is obtained which prevents hammering and allows the vane I6 to return to the off position quietly.

This apparatus can be applied to a large variety of purposes, such as opening and closing down, operating signals, clutches or feed and reversing mechanism of large machine tools.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

'1. A pressure applying device comprising a liquid container having a cylinder mounted within it, said cylinder being divided into two portions, a rotatably mounted shaft concentric with the axis of said cylinder, an impeller mounted on said shaft in one of said portions, a sleeve in the other of said portions surrounding said shaft, 5 a rotatable vane mounted on said sleeve, and means whereby the pressure produced by the rotation of said impeller is transferred to one side of said vane so as to cause an unbalance of pressure on opposite sides of said vane to effect 40 operation thereof.

2. An hydraulic operating mechanism comprising a liquid container, a two part cylinder mounted within said container, a rotatable drive shaft mounted concentrically with the axis of 45 said cylinder, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said shaft, a rotatable vane in one of the parts of said cylinder mounted on said sleeve, a rotary impeller in the other part of said cylinder mounted on said shaft, an electric motor for rotating said shaft, means whereby the pressure created by the rotation of said impeller is transferred to one side of said vane so as to cause an unbalance of pressure on the opposite sides of said vane to effect rotation thereof, and a lever connected to said sleeve whereby force is transmitted to the device which it is to be applied.

ROBERT H. vCOLLINGHAM. 

